Chapter Text
“Meister!”
“Sire, we would request your presence over here!”
Men in tunics and chainmail clambered about behind the hospital, barely hushed voices bursting with questions and exclamations. A group was huddled together, nudging and extending their necks to get a better view of the spectacle. Surrounded by them and crouching on the grass was a young being no more than six years old, its face covered in dirtied cuts. Malicious growling came from between its bared teeth as it dug its torn hands into the rough ground, as if preparing to launch forward and attack.
Only the men near the front were dimly aware that this could be a human child. For with the menacing growls heard between curious whispers, or the mop of white fur that could briefly be seen between the gaps of a dozen moving figures, many onlooking nuns at the rear envisioned dealing with a savage brute, though perhaps a wounded one.
But even those with clear view questioned the exact nature of the thing in front of them. For not only the unnaturalness of the perfectly pale shade of an elderly's hair showing itself on what appeared to be a child, but what they saw when they looked closer had many gasp and take a step backwards in bone-deep terror.
Those eyes, whose colouring was akin to the glint of fresh blood on their swords during a devastating battle, wildly scanned each of the spectators, and many a knight were reminded of horror stories told to them as children, of hellspawns sent to wreak havoc on God’s people.
“What is that?”
“Is it human?
“Why has such a creature appeared now, of all days? Is this a bad omen?”
Apprehension filled the air, tense faces and stiffer bodies each preparing themselves for the worst. Around the corner, a few had called for their Master Konrad, not knowing how to deal with the situation.
Should it be killed? But to spill blood on hospital grounds, on the day of their papally decreed officiality? Yet such a demonic creature, surely ungodly, could not be left undealt with. More men, this time dressed in cowls, rounded the corner as others made way for them. Konrad followed closely behind.
The growling came to a sudden halt and the thing blinked its devilish eyes rapidly, staring up at the newcomers. It seemed entranced for a moment, pupils blown wide as the chaplains urgently whispered to themselves, sitting still like a tamed, obedient creature, all its former hostility seemingly forgotten. Amidst the chaos, a youthful man stared upon it. Though the sight of it still sent shivers down his back, in that moment it seemed as if there was a connection to be made. A nagging feeling in the back of his mind urged him to reach out, to serve, to die, and to raise. To love. To utilise.
Then it suddenly moved forward as one monk frantically yelled “Get back!”, before the scene erupted into panicked screaming and chaos, of tripping feet and authority trying yet failing to control the scene. Swords were drawn, more men ran over, and many reached toward their beloved God in the split second.
“Draw your swords!”
“Protect the wounded! Don’t let it near the hospital!”
“Capture it!”
“Kill it!”
…
Perhaps they’ll never know what the creature’s initial intentions were when it suddenly moved. Some swore it raised its claws to attack the Meister. Some would recall the ferocious glint in its eyes, or the sharp fangs, telling stories that sounded more and more like they never fully realised the creature had the exact same structural appearance of a human boy.
The young man remembers the trusting look in its eyes as it reached out towards the Meister, like a child asking to be held, before the trust turned to confusion and terror, teeth once again bared in self-protection, before its small stature proved no match for the three swords that slashed towards him in different angles.
They tossed the unmoving body into a ditch, and even scouted the area to make sure there were no more demons. The Generalkapitel discussed the situation behind heavy doors, before sending down a hush order that this event was not to alarm the pilgrims.
…
But it was spotted again a few days later. Having learnt its lesson perhaps, it was no longer found right behind the hospital, but rather passed by a group of monks travelling the main road on their return from stocking supplies. The idea of an indestructible demon caused an uproar, and if there had been any doubt over whether the creature had truly been evil, none remained. The Meister ordered it captured before he personally lopped off the head, then proceeded to fall to his knees in solemn prayer. The rest of the monks and soldiers followed suit.
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth, as it is in Heaven…
A formal funeral rite was held for the demon, in hopes that it would be purified in God’s domain.
Yet another week thereafter it returned, and this time no mercy was shown as it was simply chopped to pieces and scattered.
And again, and again, and again.
And again.
The time between its revival always varied. But what did not change was how it seemed to always seek them out. Even the dumbest of animals would have learnt to avoid this pain.
And thus, the only conclusion was that it actively sought to harm them.
Eventually, an order was made to lock the creature deep inside the hospital, wrapped in heavy layers of customised silver chains, before piercing through its hands and feet into the ground in a mocking emulation of crucifixion. When its screaming became too maddening and agitating, brave men returned to roughly bind its mouth before hastily retreating.
Finally weeks, and then months, were able to be passed in peace.